“It’ll be better tomorrow,” Noe said, smiling. “There will be scars though.”
“Great,” I mumbled.
“You were amazing back there,” Auralee complimented.
I laughed. “I’m sure it was a sight to see.”
“It was over so quick.”
“Felt like forever,” I said. “Death stare.”
“What?”
“That’s what I’m calling it. My death stare kills.”
Mira scoffed. “Of course you named it.”
I shrugged. “Seemed appropriate.”
She laughed.
We all stood there looking at one another in the gas station restroom. I’m sure even that was quite a sight. We put our arms around each other and managed to do a group hug. “We better go.”
Auralee peeked out the door to make sure it was safe. She waved to us, and we hurried to the car. Noe had said we could go east now. By the morning we were headed out of Arizona and into New Mexico. The pain was better just like everyone had said. It wasn’t completely gone, but I imagined it would be by the next day.
The car was getting cramped, and we all needed some good horizontal sleep. We agreed on getting a hotel room for the night. We took two-hour shifts that night so that everyone could get about six hours of sleep. I actually slept. Now that my nightmares were coming true, I didn’t have to dream about them. Or maybe my mind was too tired to dream.
The next morning, the pain was completely gone. In the bathroom, I was able to find a scar on my side and a good size one on my leg. I couldn’t see the one on my back, but I could feel it.
When I came out of the bathroom, Daxton waved me over to him. “We’re going to start keeping our daggers on us.” He lifted up his pant leg to show me his.
Mira pulled up her shorts. Her dagger was attached around her thigh. “Not quite comfortable, but hidden and accessible.”
“Okay, do mine.”
She nodded and attached mine to the inside of my thigh. “When you wear pants, you can put it at the bottom like the guys.”
“Got it.”
“Look at your leg! It’s healed.”
“Not bad. I thought the scar might be worse,” Auralee commented.
The scar was a long, jagged line. It didn’t look pretty, but it was better than I could have hoped. I glanced over at Daxton wondering what he thought of it. He smiled back at me and winked. I hoped that meant he wouldn’t mind.
Auralee stood up, and reading her shirt, I rolled my eyes. ‘The universe is laughing behind your back.’ Sure felt like it!
This time, Daxton drove and I rode shotgun. We spent two days in the car before stopping at another hotel. I was alone for a brief moment when everyone went to get some food. It felt good to have that moment of privacy. Not that I didn’t love my friends and appreciate everything they were doing for me, but it just felt nice to be alone. And what did I do with that time? I completely broke down. I sunk to the bathroom floor, pulled my knees to my chest, and sobs shook my body.
I’m not sure how long I sat on the cold tile before Daxton walked in. He sat down next to me. I rested my head on my knees so he wouldn’t see my smeared make-up face. “Kass...” he whispered. “Where do you want to go?”
“A white sand beach.”
He put his arms around me, and I closed my eyes. “How’s this one?” he asked.
I opened my eyes and looked around. The beautiful beach reminded me of pictures I had seen of the Caribbean. Immediately, the rhythmic pounding of waves comforted me, repressing all of my fears. The ocean was a deep turquoise, and I could stare at it forever. The white sand was pure as snow. I was barefoot in this world. I curled my toes into the sand, which was warm and smooth.
I walked over to where the waves were crashing onto the beach and sat down sticking my feet into the warm water. Daxton silently sat next to me. Each wave would touch my toes and then pull back only to repeat again. I felt peaceful. There was nothing like this feeling. If only we could stay here forever, a place without demons, a place where I don’t have this horrible gift.
I closed my eyes and lay back on the sand absorbing the sun’s warmth. The sun hadn’t moved since we entered this world. I giggled, wondering if I could get sunburned here. “What’s so funny?” Daxton asked lying down next to me.
“Nothing. I’m just being silly.”
He ran his hand up my leg and traced my new scar. I was surprised the scar had followed me into dreamland. I shivered looking at it. It brought back unpleasant memories. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“Why are you sorry?”
“I couldn’t protect you.” He kept on tracing the scar. “I’m a man and my gift is only being a dreamer. I’m not a fighter like you. I want to be. I want to protect you.”
“These dreams are amazing,” I said. “I don’t know what I’d do without this escape of yours.”
“Pfft.” He looked into my eyes. “Watching you battle demons is unnatural, it’s wrong. I should’ve been the one protecting you.”
“No.” I touched his face. “Nobody should have to do that.”
“You’re so strong.” He smiled.
I laughed. “I’m only strong because I have to protect my friends. I’m not so sure I’d be strong if I was just by myself.”
“You would be. You’re the strongest person I know,” he said, looking into my eyes. “And the most beautiful.” He leaned closer to me and kissed me. After he pulled away, we laid there for a long time.
When I felt completely at peace, I rolled over and said, “I suppose we should get back.”
“I suppose,” he agreed. Within a few seconds we were back in the bathroom.
I glanced over at him. “Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
He stood up and pulled me up. I glanced in the mirror. Mascara was streaked all down my face. “I should clean up.” He nodded and kissed me before stepping out of the bathroom.
I heard voices as I washed my face and reapplied some make-up. I felt so much better, like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. When I walked out of the bathroom, all five of my friends were looking at the map trying to figure out what to do next. Noe was talking, “Something dark is coming, but I can’t see when or where.”
I sure didn’t like the sound of that. Something dark? I thought about sneaking away again to protect them, but Auralee shot me a look. Stop getting in my head! I yelled at her. She shook hers. Wouldn’t you want to protect us if the roles were reversed? She shot me another look, but she didn’t answer.
Zane was pointing at something. “Let’s go this way.”
“It’s as good a plan as anything,” Daxton said.
Noticing that I was in the room, Mira asked, “You okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
* * *
The next morning, I was sipping a cappuccino watching out the window when I saw some movement in the trees. My body tensed and I waited nervously, trying to see what it was. Calm down, I told myself. It’s probably just an animal. No need to get all freaked out. Then I saw it again. The hair on the back of my neck stood straight up, and I started shaking as the fear set in.
This cat-hound was using its big nose to sniff the ground. It was all black, like a 3D shadow. I was about to scream when it looked up right at me. I swear the thing smiled. Then it looked like it howled, but I couldn’t hear anything. The cup dropped from my hands.
“Kassia!” Mira came bounding out of the bathroom. “What? What is it?”
I pointed out the window and she ran over. “Shit,” she swore. “Can you…get it…from here?”
“I don’t know.” I didn’t take my eyes off the monster.
“Try.”
I concentrated on the demon, letting the anger fill my body once again and wished him dead in my head. But, he didn’t seem to be in any pain. I tried another time with the same result. “I don’t think it’s working.”
“Keep trying.” I heard her open the door. Soon the
re were more voices. “Don’t get too close,” Mira was saying.
“How many?”
“I only saw one, but he can’t be alone…or at least, not for long.”
“Do we have time to leave? Or is that riskier than staying?”
“I think we should go.”
“Yes,” Noe piped up. “We should go…now!”
Mira was by my side in a second. “Any luck?”
“No,” I said under my breath.
“Let it go.” She was trying to get in front of me. “Deep breaths and let it go. We need to get in the car.”
I forced my eyes to close and calmed my body down. When I was sure the threat was gone, I opened my eyes again and looked at everyone. “Ready.”
“Let’s go.” We grabbed our bags and raced to the parking lot.
Noe closed her eyes for a second before we went any further. “Quickly,” she said.
Quietly we hurried to the car and took off. I watched the area where I had seen the demon. He saw us and started to chase. “He’s coming,” I told them. Again, I tried using my gift to stop him, but it wasn’t working. He was fast, but the SUV was faster and soon we were long gone. I breathed a sigh of relief.
“How did they find us?” I asked.
“And why am I not seeing it all?” Noe pounded on the car door.
“I don’t think we’ll be safe anywhere,” I said.
Nobody said anything for a few minutes. “What are we supposed to do?”
“What can we do? We’re just a bunch of kids.”
“Maybe we have to take them down.”
I laughed. “Oh sure, that’s something we can do.”
“Well, we have to think of something. We can’t just keep running around the country.” Mira sighed.
“The only thing they want is me. I don’t know if there’s a head guy we can kill. Even if there is, wouldn’t the next guy want me too?” My voice was low.
“Probably. But, we’re not handing you over,” Daxton vowed.
“It makes sense. That will keep everyone else safe,” I argued.
“And what happens when they brainwash you and turn you into a killing machine?” Mira’s voice cracked. “That’s what you want? You want to be a killer?”
“No. I don’t want that. That leaves only one thing to do.”
“And what’s that?” she asked.
“I have to kill myself.”
“What?” Auralee’s jaw dropped. That was a response I usually didn’t get from her. I had actually caught her by surprise.
“Are you out of your freaking mind?” Mira yelled.
I slumped back in my seat. Sometimes I wondered if I was out of my mind. Thinking about handing myself over to demons, contemplating suicide, that must make me insane. But, what else could I do? They weren’t going to stop until they had me. We couldn’t keep running. And if they did get me, they’d use me. But, if I was dead, then they couldn’t use me, and my friends would be safe.
The only problem with this was I didn’t want to die.
Chapter Nine
At the next pit stop, Mira approached me hesitantly. “You’re not really thinking about suicide are you? Do we have to put you on some sort of twenty-four hour watch?”
“I don’t see her killing herself anytime in the near future,” Noe said as she walked by.
“I don’t want to die, Mira. But, I don’t want you to die either. I feel like this is the only way to protect you.”
“I understand that. It’s almost sweet. Except it’s not! We’re talking about death.”
I mashed my lips together. “Okay, listen. This is the only thing I can think of to keep you guys safe. If we can come up with a better plan, great, let’s do it. But, if not, if there are no more options, if it comes down to it, then we go with my plan.”
After a moment of silence, she answered, “We won’t need your plan. Somehow, we’ll figure it out.”
I hoped she was right.
It was time to call into the institute. After passwords were exchanged, Mr. Eaton asked us how we were. Mira filled him in on everything that had happened in the past week. She described the demons and how I had killed them all. She even told him I was threatening to kill myself to save them. “If they found us a second time, they’ll find us again.”
“I’m afraid you’re right. And now that they have your scent, they’ll do it quicker. We’ve had some here and they were dealt with. I’m sure that’s not the last of them. They will send more. The faculty is on high alert.”
“What can we do? How do we stop them?”
He didn’t answer right away. “I don’t know.” It was odd hearing the headmaster of a school admit he was clueless.
“Is there anyone who might know?” Daxton asked.
Again, silence, then, “Vala. If you can find her, she might be able to help you.”
“Who the hell is Vala?”
“She is a shaman, an oracle. She’s the best one. Find her.”
“Any idea where?”
“She likes quiet and elevation. The only places I’ve ever heard of her living were in the mountains, away from civilization.”
“That doesn’t narrow it down enough.”
“I’ll see if I can find out more.”
We hung up, destroyed the phone, and tossed it. “Find the shaman,” Zane was muttering while eating lunch. “Shit, how are we supposed to do that? If they wanted us to save the freakin’ world, they should’ve given us better gifts.”
I laughed out loud at that one. He looked up, embarrassed that I was actually listening. “Sorry.”
“S’ok.” he rubbed his temples. “We’re smart, we’re gifted, and we’re clueless. How does that make sense?”
“Maybe we should find other gifted people?”
“And tell them what?”
“I don’t know. What about faeries?”
“Nah, they’re too peaceful. They’ll only get involved if it threatens them directly.”
“Well, we still have our gifts. Zane, you can talk to animals. Maybe they know something. Mira can get people to talk or think about something, and then Auralee can read their minds. Noe can keep her eye on the future.”
Daxton then said, “Once again, I have nothing important to offer here.”
I took his hand, but I wasn’t sure what to say or how to comfort him.
“We can’t wait to talk to Eaton again. We need to find this shaman sooner,” Noe told us.
“Okay. We need to head up, huh?” I asked. “Anyone know the highest points around?”
“In this country…I think California, Colorado, and Washington,” Daxton said.
“Of course, we’re driving away from there, and that’s where we need to be!” Mira shouted. “UGH!”
“So, we drive back, find the highest points, and hope that the shaman is there.”
“Sounds ridiculous.”
“Do you have a better idea?”
“No.”
“Well then, let’s turn around and try to find this lady.”
Noe had that faraway look in her eyes again. “Noe?”
She didn’t say anything for a few minutes. “We will find her, just not sure when.”
“That’s something.”
Back in the car, we headed west. The plan gave us all something to think and talk about. Even if it didn’t work, it was a plan, and that was more than we had an hour ago.
As I watched out the window, tree after tree passed by. Could the shaman help us? Would she? I didn’t know anything about her. I wondered if they taught about her in classes while I was daydreaming. I should have paid more attention.
We continued to drive, stopping only for breaks and at night to sleep. “We’ll see demons today,” Noe said one morning.
“Great,” I said back sarcastically.
“Does that mean we’ll survive it?” Mira asked.
She didn’t answer. Instead Auralee said, “She’s trying to make sense of what she’s seeing. It’
s hard for her. She can’t see them clearly. She thinks it’s because they’re pretty stupid beings, and they only do what they are told to do.”
I let that sink in. The demons were stupid and under orders. “Can she tell who is ordering them to get me?”
“Not yet.” Auralee ran her hand up the back of her hair and rested it on top of her head.
“Well, it would be nice if she could speed that up.”
“Kassia!”
“Sorry. Just frustrated.”
“We all are.” Auralee patted my hand.
It was almost more nerve-wracking knowing these demons were going to show up than wondering if they might. We were extra aware and alert. Noe was quieter than usual as she tried to concentrate.
Halfway through the morning, she opened her eyes, and pointed out the window. “Up there. See them?”
We all looked ahead of us. Sure enough, three demon cat-hounds were watching for us. As we passed, they ran alongside the car. It only took a minute to speed ahead of them, but it shook us all. “Was that all of them?” I asked Noe.
“No,” she said quietly.
Awesome. We’d see more. “This day just keeps getting better,” I said.
We drove until the car was almost out of gas. We literally had to stop although none of us wanted to. We found the biggest, brightest gas station we could and stopped there. Staying together we first got gas and then went inside to the bathroom.
People were giving us strange looks. We tried to smile and look normal. I saw a couple people chuckle after reading Auralee’s shirt. Today, it read, ‘If you die in an elevator, be sure to push the UP button.’
“They’re here,” Noe whispered. “Out there.”
Looking outside, we realized we were surrounded by a number of demons. The good news was there wasn’t as many as there had been in the field. “Excuse me, Ma’am, do you see anything weird out there?” Mira asked a middle-aged lady.
The lady glanced out the windows. “No. Are you kids okay?”
“Yes, we’re fine.” She smiled.
“So, regular people can’t see them.” Zane stated the fact out loud.
“What do we do?”
“If we wait, more will come,” Noe said.
“So, we go.” Zane said.
“How do we get to the car?”
“Use our daggers?”
“There are cameras all over this place.”
They looked at me. “Can you do anything?”
I walked up to the windows, facing the demons head on. I glared at the one who looked like he was in charge, and I felt the power within me rise up. Die, you bastard. But, he didn’t. I was just as close to him as the ones I had killed in the field. It had to be the window. Somehow the window blocked my gift from getting to him. I had to go outside.